Brooder



Ott. 30, 1945.

` o. B. KERR BROODER Filed Dec. l, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oradfg oct. 3o, `1945.

O. B. KERR BROODER Filed D90. l, 1941 @ra/zy@ Kr Patented Oct. 30, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT Y o'FFICE f i BROODER Orange B. Kerr, Holly Springs, Miss.` Application December 1, 1941*, Serial No.421,-202

2 claims. (ci. 1894-34) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in: broader construction.V

An object of the invention is to providela brooderof generally 'nnproved design.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a brooder which may be packed for storage or shipment, in` relativelyV flat collapsed condition.

A further object of the invention to provide a.. brooder of the aforesaid character which. may be quickly and easily assembled toforrn a brooder housing. l

Still another object,` is the provision of means:

for quickly and conveniently cleaning the broeder to maintain the same in a sanitary condition;

Other objects and advantages of the invention become apparent as the. descriptionfprogresses.

In they accompanying drawings forming apart of thisspeciflcation and, in which like numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts.y

throughout:

Figure` 1 is a side elevationallview ofthe assembled broeder,

Figure 2is a horizontal section takenl on line 2-2 ofFigure 1l,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 3--3` of Figure 1,`

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1,

4Figure` 5 is a fragmentary perspectivefvetv of the broederl frame partly disconnected.

Figure 6.- is a fragmentary longitudinal section. taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5, and

I Figure 7 is a fragmentary" perspective view of one of the side wall sections of the broeder.

A"Referring to the drawings, wherein for-,the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred 'example of theinvention, l0 designates each` of the upright members of the frame,` preferably in the form of I equal flange angle bars having outwardly directed oifsethooks` II struck therefrom Vat predeter` mined intervals.` Secured to and connecting a pair of the uprights IIJ to form each` of? a pair ofl complementary frame sections are a pair of cross members I2 advantageously embodying channel bars having the webs extended at each end to overlie the inner flange of each of the uprights and rigidly connected thereto as by spot Welding as shown to advantage at Figure 5.

The two complementary side sections of the frame are connected, in assembly, by transversely extending connecting members I3 constituting channels having the web substantially prolonged at each end and bent to form right angularly disposed `doubled projections I 4 providing slotted l wall sections ILE consisting ofrigid sheets of metall" orthe like provided, in. the end margins, -with elongated apertures Il ad'aptedl .to engagelthe. hooks II of the uprights forimounting the wall sections `vertically against (the frame, a'sshown at Figures 1 and 4. The sectionsfare disposed:` atvthe four sides of the frame and" extendfrom'.V thetop to` the upper portions of the side channels I2' to form the upper tier walls. while similar sec-4` tions extend from the l'owermargins; ofthe upper 1 channels I2 to overlie the upper margins-of the'l lower pair of channels. The bottomhportion of each wall section I6- is shaped Ato `form .an out# wardly projecting' trough Tf embodying 'a` honi-L' zontal bottom- I8; an inclined outer wall"` litan'd verticali end. walls;` 2Il. At longitudinally spaced@ intervals in each of vthese sections` are formedfal plurality of openings, ZI preferably elongated ver` tically and having a'diminshing taper toward the lower ends. these openings are provided `circular Ventilating apertures 22. Adjacent the ends of these sectional I6` are provided vertically directed slits `23 4for a"4 purpose which will be hereinafter: described.I

Sldably/ disposed against the inner 'side of eachf Wall section I6,*in'face to face relation, is an'. elongated panel 24 advantageously formed of sheet metal having attached thereto, adjacent tl'ie` ends, laterally projecting elongated` 'ofl strips of spring metal designed-"to extend through the slits 23' of the wallfsections andi yielrlingly' expanded against the edges thereof to afford a frictional engagement so as to hold the horizontally elongated panels in selectively adjusted arrangement. As shown in Figures l, 4 and 7, each of these panels may be moved to predetermined relation with the openings 2| to partially or completely cover these openings.

Upon the upper flanges of the opposed channels I2 of the framework are removably 'seated foraminous oor forming partitions F embodying Between the lower end portions of" horizontally disposed wire mesh sections 26 mounted: onI a marginal frame 2l which l may embody aj. continuous metallic' bar( l into the channels. .The water feed pipe is then y connected and thel valves thereof adjusted to I Slidably fittedin each pair of transversely opy posed channel bars I2y is a pan 28 elongated so that when mounted in'position, with one end flush with the frame, the opposed end will proofthe feed troughs T, as illustrated at Figure 1.

lhisconstruction provides a pair of the pans 28.v

in vertically spaced parallel relation immediatelyl below the open mesh floors F and the feedf v'tubuglar member 34 in the upper drain outlet.

effecta suitable flow of water which drips through thewire mesh iioors 4into the' pans where it is maintainedat a constant level bythe overflow' apertures 33 in the extension tube 32 and the The'water dripping from the faucets 39 also provides drinking water for the birds The vertically slidable'panels v24 of the .wall sections Vare adjusted in .accordance with thesize of the birds in the respective compartments of the housing,

f being lowered' to expose but a relatively small area troughs. The projecting ends of these pans have an'opening inthe bottom formed lwith* av circumof a depending frusto-conical drain funnel .30, `the lower reduced end of which mergesl into a `depending'tubular drain section 3|.

'Ir'he" lower end of the uppermost drain tube 3| terminates well above the lowerpan 28 'in alignment'with the drain outlet ofthe latter `and slid ably receives thereon the upper portion of an extension tubular member 32. This latter member is normally' disposed in a lowered position with its bottom beveled end seated onthetapered outlet` 30 to provide a connection between the upper and lowerfdrain outlets.' `This extension tubeis provided with'a plurality of apertures 33 to provide overflow outlets therein. In the ,upper drain .out'

f let is seated a short ltubular member 34 having its upper open end disposed intermediate the height of the upper pan to form an overflow.

The top of the housing is normally coveredlby a sheet metal flanged cover member 35.

,To one of the angular corner kbars of the frame issecured, by a bracket 36. the vertical portion 31 of a water feed pipe having transverse branches 38 directed inwardly through openings in the side wall sections and provided at theirl inner ends with down curved faucets 39 fitted with regulating valves 40 disposed to direct'the water onto the i The lower portions of the uprights I0 extend below the housing structure and have sockets 4I mounted thereon to engage casters 42.

VThe.- brooder is packed` for storage or shipment in knockdown condition with the transverse connecting members I3 detached from the opposed side frame sections so that these sections together with the wall sections and other parts may be `disposed in relatively at arrangement occupying a small compass as compared to the assembled structure. To assemble the skeleton frame the slotted end elements I4 of the detached connecting bars I 3 are slidably fitted over the upper and lower ends of the upright bars of the frame. Y The panel carrying wall sections I6 are then assembled by suspending thesame upon the upturned hooks II of the uprights. The open mesh floors F areseated on the top flanges of the upper and ferential flange 29 engagingthe upper periphery of the openings 2| for very young chicks and raised to expose a greater portion thereof for birds A of greater maturity. Furthermore, these panels enable restriction of the light in the compartments so as to eliminate or greatly reduce cannibalism.

lower-complementary`-l pairs of channels I2 and 4 th upper and lower pans 28 are slidably fitted The liquid containing pans 28 are designed to receive droppings and refuse from the compart ments and are emptied or flushed at required intervals by removing the upper short tube section 34 and by vertically elevating the connecting tube section 32 to allow unobstructed discharge of the liquid fromthe pans through the drain pipes. The liquid also serves to provide proper humidity in the compartments, which is particularly advantageous in those compartments containing broilers.

While the brooder is shown and described as composed of two decks, it is to be noted that it may be constructed to embody a variable number of decks in accordance with the particular construction desired. Y

It is to be -understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the sameY and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe inven-l tion or the scope of the subjoinedclaims. I p

Whatl claim is: 1. A side wall construction f or a brooder', comprisng a transverse frame member, ari-upright `member formed with right angular anges, a

cross bar of channel shaped cross section,an extension at the end of the web of the cross bar bent to form doubled right angularly disposed slot defining projections adapted to slideably and frictionally embrace the upright, outwardly djrected offset hooks struck Ifrom said upright on opposite sides thereof and spaced at predetermined intervals thereon, and rigid removeable wall forming sections having elongated apertures positioned therein adapted to coact with and be supported on said hooks. Y

. 2. The device as described in claim 1 in 4which there are a plurality of transverse frame members and uprights, and said frame members; extend horizontally between the uprights and'have their webs extended and secured to certain flanges 01 said uprights.

' ORANGE B. KERR. Y 

